Thursday, April 28, 2011

Environmental Day Volunteers Needed

2011 Environmental Day: Living Green in Rockland

Sunday, May 15th

11am - 4pm

The Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority is finalizing plans for
our 2nd Annual Environmental Day, Living Green in Rockland being held on
Sunday, May 15th from 11am to 4 pm at our facilities in Hillburn.

Please join us as we celebrate all things green at our fun-filled
Environmental Day Celebration. This free event to the public drew over 1,000
visitors last year and we hope to make it greener and greater for 2011.

We are looking for volunteers to help with various activities throughout the
day. We are expecting over 30 environmental exhibitors; hosting our first
ever Environmental Film Festival; presenting our Annual Rockland Recycles
Awards; planning lots of fun activities for kids; providing open-house tours
of our Environmental Education and Recycling Center; will have live music,
entertainment, local food vendors and more!

To volunteer, please call Kerri Scales at 753-2200 x22 or email at
kscales@rocklandrecycles.com.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

NATIONAL TAKE BACK INITIATIVE



APRIL 30, 2011
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

 

Find a collection site near you

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  More than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health.  Each day, approximately, 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet.
In an effort to address this problem, DEA, in conjunction with state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the United States, conducted the first ever National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, September 25, 2010.  The purpose of this National Take Back Day was to provide a venue for persons who wanted to dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs.  This effort was a huge success in removing potentially dangerous prescription drugs, particularly controlled substances, from our nation’s medicine cabinets.  There were approximately 3,000 state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the nation that participated in the event.  All told, the American Public turned in more than 121 tons of pills on this first National Take Back Day.
Due to the overwhelming success of the first event, DEA has scheduled the second National Prescription Drug Take Back Day which will take place on Saturday, April 30, 2011, from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.  This is a great opportunity for those who missed the first event or who have subsequently accumulated unwanted, unused prescription drugs, to safely dispose of them. 

Find a collection site near you

Sargent-Downing Garden Volunteers Needed

The Sargent – Downing Gardens and Nursery!

The City of Beacon Recreation Department is proud to present a new recreation program for the community in the newly opened NYS Park known as The University Settlement Camp. 

You can help educate children about horticulture, gardening and sustainability.  Volunteers of all ages are invited to participate in educating and maintaining the grounds, which include a Tree Nursery, Organic perennial & shrub gardens, Vegetable gardens, and Herbal Gardens. While serving the community at large, this program will also provide the City of Beacon with trees for its parks and Main Street.


Join us for the following volunteer opportunities:

April 30
Continued cleanup of Garden at the Settlement Camp
Table at Beacon Barks on Main Street

May 14
Planting Day Festival – Annual Planting Day at the Garden with food and music


Contact Beacon Recreation Commissioner Justin Riccobono at 845-765-2991or Richie Cabo, 845-476-1660.

About the Sargent Downing Nursery and Garden historical roots:
The Hudson Valley has a rich history in the early development of American landscape gardening and design. Both Beacon and Newburgh were the homes of two distinguished horticulturists, Henry Winthrop Sargent and Andrew Jackson Downing, who paved the way for the art form that helped design some of the most beautiful landscapes in America. 

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Recycle and/or Donate Shoes

Soles4Souls facilitates the donations of shoes, which are used to aid the hurting worldwide. Shoe companies, retailers, and individuals can donate footwear (both new and used). Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS, and donating parties are eligible for tax advantages.   www.soles4souls.org

Nike’s Reuse a Shoe Program has provided Nike Grind recycled material to nearly 300 sport and playground surfacing projects donated by Nike programs in communities around the world – in addition to the thousands of commercial projects

Every day sports enthusiasts go through countless pairs of running and other athletic shoes. We offer the first online recycling and donation directory that helps people find these local and international shoe recycling programs. Find the best recycling and donation alternatives for your used running shoes and footwear today!

Recycle Stuffed Animals

Stuffed Animals for Emergencies (S.A.F.E) chapter members collect new and gently used stuffed animals, toys, books and blankets to be redistributed to emergency organizations, children’s services, hospitals, homeless shelters and many other places that help children during times of crisis.  These emergency organizations use the stuffed animals to ease the children’s nerves and calm their fears.  Your donations let the children know you care and help them feel a little more SAFE when they need it most.

Earthy Day Lobby Day - Register Today

Earth Day Lobby Day 2011!
Monday, May 2nd2011
9:30 A.M. – 3:30 P.M.
New York State Capitol
Albany, NY
Want to do more than just plant a tree for Earth Day?  There’s still time to register to attend the 21st annual Earth Day Lobby Day in Albany, New York!   Join hundreds of other activists from across the state in advocating for stronger laws to protect our environment.   No prior lobbying experience needed! 
This year's Earth Day Lobby Day will focus on critically important environmental issues such as expanding solar energy, curbing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting watersheds from the dangers of hydrofracking, and making our communities more pedestrian-friendly. 

This event is free and open to the public, but you must preregister by April 27th to attend. 
Earth Day Lobby Day 2011 is being sponsored by the Adirondack Council, Audubon New York, Catskill Mountainkeeper, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Environmental Advocates of New York, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, New York Interfaith Power and Light, New York Public Interest Research Group, Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, Tri-State Transportation Campaign, and other organizations.

RAMAPO RIVER WATERSHED CONFERENCE

16TH ANNUAL
RAMAPO RIVER WATERSHED CONFERENCE

FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2011
Ramapo College of New Jersey

505 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, N.J. 07430, Student Center - Room 136

 9:30 am – Coffee and Bagels

10:00 - Remarks:  Ramapo College President Peter Mercer,
 Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef

10:15 -  A New Ramapo River Watershed Tour  2011 in Photos and HD Video

10:45 – Adam Strobel, Bergen County Planner, Visioning and Management Plan for Bergen County Ramapo Mountain Parklands

11:00 - Doc Bayne, Sterling Forest Historian: The Building of Sterling Forest Gardens:Historic Film of Peat Wetlands Drained to Create Gardens

11:30 - Rabbi Joel Mosbacher of Beth Haverim Shir Shalom Synagogue and co-founder of New Jersey Together; Joe Morris, lead Organizer of New Jersey Together: Using The Tools of  Citizens’ Organizing to Protect our Drinking Water and Hold Polluters Accountable.                     

 12:00 Noon – 1:15 pm     -     LUNCH


1:15 PM - Janet Burnet, New York State Chair:   Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route          National Trail Update

1:30 -  Kevin Olsen, Passaic River InstituteMontclair State University: Water Pollution Analysis in New Jersey, Employing the Cutting Edge Analytical Technology of 1876

2:00 - Chuck Stead, Cornell Cooperative Extension Educator / Adjunct Professor, Ramapo College: The Saltbox Environmental Research Center, Ford Toxic Legacy Continues

2:30 - Carl Padula, Chairman Flood Advisory Board, Pompton Lakes, Flood Problems in Pompton Lakes
                                    
 3:00 - E. Durling Merrill, Environmental Officer Pompton Lakes: Local Knowledge Based on Extensive Field Experience on the Lower Ramapo River

  3:15 - Don Steinmetz, HEnRI, Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda Program: From Forest to Faucet

3:45 - Howard Horowitz, Ramapo College: Geographic and Hydrologic Peculiarities of the Ramapo Watershed

4:00 - Geoff Welch, Ramapo River Committee: David JohnsonAn Artist’s Nature Studies in Torne Valley During the 1870’s

4:30 - Wine and Cheese Reception
       
                       Presented by the Ramapo River Committee
and the Institute for Environmental Studies at Ramapo College
Kindly Sponsored by:
GEORGE L. BECKER Jr. MD, CGF
 PASSAIC RIVER COALITION
 ROCKLAND COUNTY, TOWN of RAMAPO, BETTY HEDGES, JAN BARRY
THE RAMAPO RIVER WATERSHED INTERMUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Free Event - Registration requested at geoffwelch@gmail.com (845) 712-5220

Guided Park Walk - Blauvelt Parks

Saturday, April 30, 2011
When: 10:15 AM - 5:00 PM 

Details: Join Docent John Jurasek on this 10 mile, 3-sneaker
(difficult) walk.  Explore a historic Rockland cemetery, mysterious
tunnels, and Nyack College.  There will be a long climb, many ups and
downs, and some rocky areas. Make sure to have 2 liters of water and
pack a lunch.

Directions: Route 9W to Piermont NY (follow signs). Go down hill until
you reach Piermont Avenue. Make a right on Piermont Avenue and park in
the municipal lot on left.  Walkers will meet at 450 Piermont Avenue in
Piermont, NY (at the corner of Tate and Piermont Avenues)

*****************************************************************
About the Guided Walks:
·       Pre-registration for all walks is suggested.  Call: 845-708-7307
or e-mail rcamericorps@co.rockland.ny.us.
·       All walks are rain or shine.
·       Participants should wear proper footwear (closed-toe sturdy
shoes such as walking shoes/boots or sneakers) and clothing
(light-colored) and seasonally appropriate attire such as a jacket, hat,
or gloves depending on the weather and bring along binoculars, water,
sunscreen, a snack, and walking sticks if desired.  Hiking boots
preferred.
·       As with any physical activity program, it is recommended you
speak to your physician before starting.
·       For more information about the trails visit
www.rocklandsteps.org/walks
·       For more information about upcoming guided walks call
845-708-7307 or e-mail rcamericorps@co.rockland.ny.us.
·       Guided Park Walks are sponsored by the Rockland County Division
of Environmental Resources, the Rockland County Youth Bureau’s
AmeriCorps program and the Rockland County Department of Health’s
Steps to a Healthier Rockland program.

Additional Rain Barrel Workshops

The Dutchess Watershed Coalition and Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County are holding two additional Rain Barrel Building Workshops this Spring. 

On May 10th at 7pm the organizations will be partnering with the Town of Pawling to host a workshop at Lakeside Park in the Town of Pawling. On June 4th at 10am they will be partnering with the Town of Fishkill and hosting a workshop at the Town Hall in Fishkill.  At each of these workshops you will learn how to build a 55-gallon rain barrel that you will take home. The cost of the workshop is $45.

Space is limited and registration is required. To register, contact Angela at (845) 677-8223, ext. 114. Your spot in the workshop is not held until we receive your payment. These workshops fill quickly and are on a first come, first serve basis.

Walk & Talk at CEIE | Bird Walk: Eric Lind


Center for Environmental Innovation and Education (CEIE) 

Sat, April 30 at 9 a.m.

199 Dennings Ave, Beacon




Join Audubon New York's Eric Lind at 9a.m. to spy these little beauties as they migrate back to our woods with color and song. Please pre-register online.

Currently, Eric is the Director of Audubon New York’s Constitution Marsh Center and Sanctuary in Garrison, New York. Heavily influenced by past human activity including severe toxic contamination, the marsh remains a significant wildlife habitat and serves as a fascinating case-study of the relationship between our activities, both positive and negative, on natural systems. Eric oversees all aspects of the Center’s operations, including fundraising, education, and habitat management. His professional highlights include leading eco-tour programs to Canada, the Caribbean Sea, Venezuela, and Central America. He serves as Chair of the Philipstown Conservation Advisory Council and is a member of the Hudson River Estuary Management Advisory Committee.




John Cronin at APWCTU

On Wednesday, April 27th, the Ashokan-Pepacton Watershed Chapter of Trout Unlimited is delighted to welcome John Cronin, the international renowned Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries, for an exciting look at the Beacon Institute’s real time monitoring on the Hudson, its innovative vision for the global use of such monitoring, and a critical inquiry into how advanced levels of information about rivers and streams can ultimately inform and influence watershed management practices.

Honored as a "Hero of the Planet" by Time magazine, John Cronin served as Hudson Riverkeeper for 17 years, co-authored the book The Riverkeepers with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and wrote and co-produced the film, The Last Rivermen, which was named an outstanding documentary by the Motion Picture Academy Foundation. He began his work on the Hudson River in 1973, at the prodding of folksinger Pete Seeger. Since then, he has worked tirelessly as an advocate for streams and the natural and human communities that depend upon them. He has worked as a commercial fisherman and served as a state and congressional legislative aide. He is also a co-founder and senior fellow at Pace University's Pace Academy for Applied Environmental Studies.
 
The Chapter’s monthly meeting at the Boiceville Inn on Route 28 in Boiceville begins at 6:30 pm with informal social networking, followed at 7:30 pm by a short business meeting. The presentation begins at 8 pm. The entire evening is open to the public at no charge. For more information, please visit www.apwctu.org
 
Please share this invitation with others and join us to welcome John Cronin at next Wednesday's meeting!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Earth Day Activities


Earth Day Celebration and Community Yard Sale at Hudson Highlands Nature Museum

Saturday, April 30 10am-3pm at the Outdoor Discovery Center, entrance on Muser Drive across from 174 Angola Road.

Rain Date: Sunday, May 1 10am-3pm
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Community Yard Sale for the shopper in the family.
Everyone will have fun in the “Green Zone” where Museum staff will lead family activities Children who get their free Planet Protector Passport stamped at each booth will win a prize.Children will enjoy pony rides,  visiting farm animals including goats, chickens, sheep and a Clydesdale horse, a nature play area, and music by Lydia Adams Davis.
All activities are free with the suggested donation of $5 per car for parking, except for the pony rides which are an extra fee.
Food and Refreshments will be available for purchase.
All funds raised will support environmental education.
Suggested donation is $5 a car load (some additional costs for activities)
Purchase a 10x12 yard sale spot for $25 call 845-534-5506, ext. 204.

Earth Day celebration centers on sensors at CEIE  

REON Technology: Smaller, Faster, Cheaper       
James S. Bonner, Ph.D., P.E., Beacon Institute's Chief Research and Education Officer, will kick off the Institute's 2011 event season 4/21, at 7pm, at the Center for Environmental Innovation and Education (CEIE). The event will prepare the audience for Earth Day with a new understanding of sensors, and how they are transforming our understanding of environmental science.  

Dr. Bonner is a nationally recognized expert in real-time water monitoring and oil spill remediation. In fact, earlier this week Dr. Bonner joined a panel of specialists via live webcast for a year-after assessment of the devastating Gulf Oil spill. The webcast was convened by the Smithsonian National Museum of  Natural History's Ocean Portal and Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE)  


Join Dr. Bonner tomorrow evening for "REON Technology: Smaller, Faster, Cheaper" as he unveils data from his research team's mobile monitoring tours of the Hudson, discusses the movement of sediment particles in the river near Fort Edward and offers a glimpse into new sensor technologies currently in development. Register online here


Scenic Hudson Events
Earth Day Cleanup: Franny Reese State Park
Date: Thursday, Apr. 21, 5:30 p.m. 
Location: Franny Reese State Park (Ulster)

Join people around the world committed to creating a more beautiful planet by helping us weed and clean up gateway gardens and plant trees near the parking area at one of our newest parks. More ››


Earth Day Cleanup: Mount Beacon Park
Date: Friday, Apr. 22, 10 a.m.
Location: Mount Beacon Park(Dutchess)

Helping us spruce up one of our most popular parks by joining a trail crew restoring water bars, weeding a garden or hiking to the mountaintop to fill up a trash bag on the way down. More ››

Earth Day Cleanup: Falling Waters Preserve
Date: Saturday, Apr. 23, 10 a.m.
Location: Falling Waters Preserve (Ulster)

Enjoy a sneak peek at Scenic Hudson's newest park while helping to restore one of its prime attractionsóa Hudson Riverside trail offering magnificent views.More ››

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Safe Medications Disposal Day - May 7th

The next day to dispose of unused or expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medication is May 7, 2011, at the Dutchess County Resource Recovery Agency, 96 Sand Dock Road, Poughkeepsie. Unused or expired prescriptions, over-the-counter medication, pills, ointments, lotions, and liquids are accepted in their original packaging. Pet medication is also accepted. There is no fee for this event, however, registration is required for a time slot. For specific instructions, call 845-463-6020.

Medication Disposal Brochure

April CAC Meeting

The next meeting of the Beacon Conservation Advisory Committee is Tuesday, April 26th, 2011. We will meet at 7pm, in the police training room at 1 Municipal Plaza. 

WHAT' S UP ON THE HUDSON RIVER?

FIND OUT ……on April 27, 2011, 7pm at the Pearl River Library, 80 Franklin Ave., Pearl River, NY 10965.

Guest Speaker: Paul Gallay, Executive Director, Hudson Riverkeeper

Sponsored by:
The League of Women Voters of Rockland County
The Rockland County Water Quality Committee

Contact: Mary Hegarty (Rockland Co. Water Quality Committee) at hegartym@co.rockland.ny.us845-364-2670 or
Harriette Stern (Rockland Co. League of Women Voters) at 845-425-6114.

An Evening with the Fellows: Financing Smart & Sustainable Place-Making


A forum presented by the American Planning Association's New York Chapter, West Section

Monday, April 25th, 7:30 p.m., College Terrace, SUNY New Paltz

Three Fellows of the American Institute of Certified Planners (Frank Fish, FAICP; Dwight Merriam, FAICP; Stuart Turner, FAICP) will explore the promise of fostering priority growth areas and examine how economic planning and strategic land use can help sustain the Hudson Valley.

DISCUSSION TOPICS

Innovative Zoning and Fiscal Policies
The State Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)

Cost:  $12; Free for SUNY students (pre-registration required). RSVP at RegistrationFor more information call David Gilmour, AICP at (845) 616-2278 or Gilmourplanning@gmail.comOr go to the NY Metro APA Chapter web page at www.nyplanning.org.